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2024-05-13 12:07:33Related chapter
Midnight On The Bayou 134
As my agitation peaked, and I was about to rush out to confront whatever awaited in the bayou, the ringing phone halted my momentum. Gerald swiftly put the call on speakerphone. "Go ahead, Theodore," he said, signaling us to listen. "Hello, Gerald, sir. I'd say good day, but I know it is far from it. I've got an update for y'all." The voice was oddly familiar, though it took me a moment to place it.Theodore... How do I know a Theodore? Theodore Bayou? Wait... Teddy Bay! My heart skipped as the recognition dawned.A rush of memories flooded in. Teddy Bay and I went to school together during the brief periods I was allowed to attend. He stopped higher-level werewolves, the few alphas and such we went to school with, from teasing and outright torturing the little skinny rogue in class. On more than one occasion. I knew he was part of the pack down there, but I had no idea he'd risen to become the beta. It was both shocking and oddly comforting. One of the few friends I had in school
Dernière mise à jour : 2024-05-14Midnight On The Bayou 135
We loaded up in Ky's truck. Ky took the wheel, Knox claimed the passenger seat, and I settled between them. I laughed at my jeans and t-shirt next to their much more sophisticated appearances. We were going to the bayou. Those khakis would get messed up pretty quickly. But then again, I guess it only mattered how they looked when we showed up. Most of the time, everyone ended up naked anyway. Behind us, a convoy of vehicles lined up, ready to follow at my direction."So much for doing this stealthy," I remarked, glancing back at the line of cars stretching endlessly.Knox chuckled, draping an arm around my shoulders. "Well, time for subtleties is over."Ky huffed as he reached over and rested his hand on my knee. "It was over a long time ago. I'm just happy Dad is starting to come around.""Yeah," Knox added, "he still probably doesn't believe Fletcher was as involved as he was."I hated that Gerald was holding onto that particular belief so fiercely. "It doesn't matter if he doe
Dernière mise à jour : 2024-05-15Midnight On The Bayou 136
Phin cleared his throat. "Let's go inside, shall we?" He led us into the tent, cluttered with maps and papers on a large table.My name appeared frequently on the documents, and I noticed Teddy giving me a peculiar look from across the table. His was curious or maybe concerned, but I couldn't tell which. The air inside the tent was thick with the scent of damp earth and pine, the bayou's signature perfume. Thankfully, it masked the scent that Ceci was still admitting for some reason. While I tried to focus on the cluttered maps, I couldn't help but be distracted by Teddy and Cassy. "So, you're telling me you actually ride these around?" Cassy pointed to a picture of an airboat."All the time, Cher. Don't tell me you're scared of a little swamp water?" Teddy teased. Cassy tossed her head back, laughing. "No, not the water. Maybe just of the gators that come with it!"After watching Phin and Gerald review the information, it dawned on me. "You were assigned to watch me.""Okay, ye
Dernière mise à jour : 2024-05-16Midnight On The Bayou 137
Everyone streamed back into the tent. "The plan kicks off at 10 p.m. tonight," Ky announced as he sat beside me and draped his arm around my shoulders possessively."I'm going," I blurted out, more to convince myself than them.Knox spun on me. "What? Hell no, Sky. As much as I don't want to leave you here, you going with us is worse. Way worse.""I'm not staying with him out there. It's my dad doing this. I'm the reason Kael's out there... I'm going," I shot back.Tears threatened to spill over, the pregnancy hormones swirling into a storm inside me. My chest tightened, breaths becoming shallow as panic and determination clashed."You can't seriously consider this," Knox started, "It's too risky.""And what if you get caught? What then, Sky? That asshole has made it pretty clear he has no regard for your safety, so what will he do?" Ky added, pacing a short, tight circle before me."This isn't about risk," I countered. "It's about doing what's right. It's my dad, Kyran. I can't just
Dernière mise à jour : 2024-05-17Midnight On The Bayou 138. (CASSY POV)
(CASSY POV)Leila always said I would recognize my mate the instant I saw him, and as it turned out, she was right. Before I even walked up to them, I caught sight of his eyes and that ever-present ballcap. He had a habit of turning it in a different direction every few minutes, each gesture catching my attention more than the last. He was intriguing. Undeniably so.Hearing Sky talk about her almost otherworldly experiences in the bayou had always drawn me in. Her life seemed like a saga from another realm compared to mine, and I absorbed every story, never imagining how these tales might soon intersect with my own life.As the evening wore on, and the plan for the night was set in stone, a stillness settled over the camp. There was a gap of about five hours until everything was supposed to start. It was during this lull that Teddy leaned in close."Hey, can you come with me for a walk through the bayou?" he asked.I hesitated, glancing back at the tent. My brothers and father might
Dernière mise à jour : 2024-05-18Midnight On The Bayou 139. (CASSY POV)
(CASSY POV)He guided me down to the creek. In one swift move, he reached down in the water and snagged a crawdad, its tiny claws snapping in protest. He held it up, eyes glinting with mischief before handing it over."Here, try not to get pinched, you." he grinned.I took it, careful not to let it escape. We settled by the water's edge. The crawdad was now our shared entertainment. He pulled off his shirt, muscles rippling, and placed it on a log for me to sit on. My eyes were glued to him. His physique was raw, honed by hard work, not the gym."You're teasing me," I said, unable to look away.He laughed. "Non, cher, but I wasn't really thinking. If Sky or your brothers find me without my shirt on..."Tribal tattoos snaked over his skin, words written down his ribs, and a tribal wolf design wrapped around his side. "Let me see," I demanded, making him twist and turn. His sweat glistened in the sunlight as I traced one of the tattoos with a finger. This left my finger covered in
Dernière mise à jour : 2024-05-18Midnight On The Bayou 140. (CASSY POV)
I sat there, feeling about an inch tall, when Ky came out. He plopped down beside me, letting out a long breath."Well... you pissed him off pretty good. He's in there ranting and acting... strange. Even the other bayou guys don't seem to understand him speaking in weird French. What the hell, Cassy? Everything okay?"I whispered, "He's my mate, Ky."He leaned back against the picnic table. "I know... So, I'll ask you again, what happened out there that got him so riled up? Do I need to intervene, or did you handle it, and that's why he's mad?"I snorted. "No. He didn't do anything wrong. I think I did, actually."Ky nodded, understanding written all over his face. "Oh. Trust me, I understand. Your emotions are about to be up and down and all over the place, being an Alpha with your fated mate right in front of you, yet not your mate in all senses yet... It's a mind trip for sure.""Ky, everything in me said to come today. Even Sky was feeling something that made her say the same thin
Dernière mise à jour : 2024-05-19Midnight On The Bayou 141. (SKY POV)
(SKY POV)We entered the decrepit building, the structure a haunting relic left untouched since the last hurricane's wrath. Kael was naked, suspended from the ceiling. He was bound by heavy chains that wrapped tightly around his chest, neck, arms, and waist, securing him cruelly in midair. IV lines ran from each arm, one dripping with the distinct, pungent scent of wolfsbane, while the contents of the other remained a mystery. His body was covered in wounds, bruises, and gashes. Blood ran in rivulets down his body, dripping steadily from his foot into a puddle on the floor. His face was swollen and distorted, his eyes almost swollen shut. His lip was split open badly, and an entire eyebrow was split open and bleeding, causing blood to flow down that side of his face and to his neck. His beautiful blonde hair had been ripped out in several places and was now a haunting red tint from all the blood. There was so much blood. So much blood. The sight was so shocking, so brutally v
Dernière mise à jour : 2024-05-20
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Midnight On The Bayou 189. (KNOX POV)
(KNOX POV)Teddy called later that day. I could hear the hesitation in his voice, which was rare for him. "Knox, I just heard Essie's been seen near the old rogue housing units by the beach. They said she is staying in the stray house near the edge," he told me. He didn't have to say more. I knew exactly where he meant.It was the same place I had taken her before when things were spiraling out of control.I didn't want to bring anyone with me, especially not Sky. The memories of how deep I had fallen, how Burk and Fletcher manipulated me into that dark pit of sex addiction, were too raw. She didn't need to see that side of me. No one did. This was something I had to face alone.The truck's engine roared to life, the same one I'd driven that night years ago. I prayed she'd recognize the truck, which would trigger something in her or at least make her talk to me about that night.As I pulled up to the house, my heart pounded against my ribs. The place looked as rundown as ever. I sa
Midnight On The Bayou 188. (KNOX POV)
(KNOX POV)Sitting at the kitchen table, my phone buzzed with a notification. It was a message from the pediatrician's office about Oxxy's upcoming surgery. They asked about insurance information and the final payment arrangements. I didn't hesitate to respond that I'd pay cash. Money wasn't an issue when it came to Oxxy's well-being.The reply came almost immediately, but it wasn't what I expected. They mentioned needing some papers signed and, since I wasn't the custodial parent, they would need his mom's signature to proceed.My heart sank. I stared at the message, trying not to panic. The thought of needing Essie's involvement made my stomach twist. She had been out of the picture after running away from the rehab, and now they were saying we needed her? It felt like a slap in the face.Sky entered the room and noticed the strain in my posture. "What's wrong?" I didn't say anything, just handed her the phone. After reading the message, she sighed and ran her fingers through my
Midnight On The Bayou 187. (KNOX POV)
(KNOX POV)"We found him."The delta's voice crackled over the radio, and everything around me seemed to freeze. Still, I couldn't fully relax. I needed to see him with my own eyes. Needed to know he was safe."Where?" I shouted into the radio, desperation pushing my voice louder than intended."By the pond," came the reply. "He's just sitting there, Knox. You need to get down here."I didn't wait for more information. I shifted and sprinted through the woods, driven by the overwhelming need to reach him. My heart raced, thoughts spiraling through every possible scenario. The idea of him being out there all alone and the what-could-have-happened scenarios if we hadn't found him made me sick to my stomach.Seeing him nearly brought me to my knees as I reached the pond. He was perched on a large rock, his little legs swinging back and forth like he hadn't just scared us all half to death. Relief hit me so hard that I almost stumbled, but I kept moving."Oxxy!" I called out, rushing tow
Midnight On The Bayou 186. (KNOX POV)
(KNOX POV)As soon as I returned to the house, the pressure hit me like a physical force. Something was wrong. Really wrong. The packhouse was eerily quiet. I barely had time to process the change from dead still to chaos before Ky rushed up to me, panic radiating off him."Knox, we lost Oxxy."That knocked the wind out of me. My heart started pounding so hard it felt like it might burst. "What do you mean you lost him? How could you let him out of your sight?" The panic in my voice was undeniable, but I couldn't help it. The fear was already taking over, squeezing at my chest like a vise.Ky's eyes were wide with fear. "I'm sorry, I just... I turned around for a second, and he was gone. I thought he was just running back to the house, but he's nowhere Knox. We can't find him. Where the hell could he have gone? It was less than a minute."The blood drained from my face as the reality of what he was saying hit me. Oxxy was missing. I immediately jumped to the worst possible scenari
Midnight On The Bayou 185. (KY POV)
( KY POV )I watched Cassy practically force Teddy into his truck after she tossed Phin in the back seat. I stepped toward her, hoping to say something that might calm her down. Before I could say anything, she spun around. "Before you lecture me, you need to go talk to your two lookalikes inside before I kill them!" she yelled.She quickly caught herself and apologized. "I'm sorry for yelling at you, Ky. It's just... They need to get their shit together. This isn't the time to act like kids."I sighed, taking a few deep breaths before heading inside. If I was being honest, I was tired of it too. We had three kids now, and this constant chaos couldn't keep happening. We had to figure out how to handle this before it tore us apart. Or they had to grow up in the kinds of messes we did. As I made my way to the packhouse, my thoughts drifted back to Naomi. I had been in love with her for nearly a decade. We were marked and bonded, and I was ready to spend my life with her. But then she
Midnight On The Bayou 184. (SKY POV)
SKY POVI was doing everything I could to help Knox handle Oxxy, but it felt like trying to put a band-aid on a gaping wound. Knox was beyond frustrated with himself for allowing Oxxy to see the fight and hear everything accidentally. After sending Oxxy to his room to gather his cars so they could play together on the porch, he paced the room."I can't believe I let him see that, Sky," Knox muttered. "He's just a kid. He shouldn't have to deal with this damn mess."I watched as he tried to pull himself together, knowing how much this was tearing him apart. I reached out, taking his hand. "We'll make it right, Knox. We'll make sure Oxxy knows he's safe with us. He seemed okay?"Before he could respond, the door opened, and Kael stormed in. "What the hell happened?"Knox didn't hesitate. "Phin said his Dad used black magic to block finding out who Oxxy's father is. We got into it. Cassy left to drive Phin and Teddy back to the Bayou land.""She drove them back? Alone? As volatile as the
Midnight On The Bayou 183. (KNOX POV)
(KNOX POV)We returned from the run, but what we needed to do was still heavy on my mind. As we approached the packhouse, I braced myself for the conversation with Cassy. I knew she wouldn't want to hear anything about Teddy's past, especially when it involved someone else, but we couldn't avoid it any longer.When we walked into the living room, Cassy was already on edge. I could see how she held herself, tense and ready for a fight. "Cassy, we need to talk," I started, trying to ease into it.She didn't give me an inch. "About what?" she asked, her arms crossed defensively."It's about Oxxy… and Teddy, and everything that happened," I said, knowing this wouldn't go well no matter how I worded it."I don't want to talk about Teddy being with someone else, Knox. I can't.""I get it, Cass," I stated. "But we need to figure this out for Oxxy's sake. Wouldn't you want to know if he was the... Wouldn't you care?"She stared at me, anger flashing in her eyes as she started to pace. "You th
Midnight On The Bayou 182. (KNOX POV)
KNOX POVSky found me asleep on the floor in Oxxy's room, curled up beside his bed like a helpless puppy guarding his toy. I had one arm draped over his small body, trying to offer comfort. Probably more for me than him. He was content, totally unaware of my messy thoughts. I hoped it would always remain that way. He'd been through enough already to have to also handle adults with big emotions.Oxxy was snuggled up in his bed, his tiny malnourished body barely taking up any space, his breathing even and calm. I didn't know how long I'd been there, but it must've been a while because the hard floor beneath me was making my back scream."Knox," Sky whispered as she knelt beside me. "Do you want to go for a run? I think it will do you some good."I blinked awake, my eyes heavy with exhaustion. I knew she was right. I needed to clear my head. "Yeah," I muttered, rubbing my eyes. "Let's go. But don't wake the other two." The last thing I wanted was for Kael and Ky to join us. I needed to
Midnight On The Bayou 181. (KNOX POV)
(KNOX POV)Cassy sat across from me, twisting around a loose thread on the couch. "Teddy's convinced Oxxy isn't yours," she finally said. "He thinks Oxxy's actually Ferdinand's."I stared at her, struggling to process what she was saying. "What? That's impossible.""They found out after that Ferdinand was also sleeping with her," she continued, not looking at me."Who's 'they'?" I asked."Essie and Phin were involved. Pretty intensely, from what I've gathered. And I'm pretty sure Teddy was in on it too, even though he won't admit it outright."I felt like the ground had been ripped out from under me."There's no way Oxxy isn't mine, Cassy."Cassy sighed, finally looking at me. "Knox, they were all pretty close. Maybe too close. I don't think they were trying to hide it. Teddy told me that Essie and Ferdinand were... well, let's just say they weren't just friends."I shook my head, refusing to accept what she was saying. "Oxxy looks like me. If he were Ferdinand's, he wouldn't have bl
